In this paper, we propose a multi-level block matching algorithm using motion information in blocks. In the proposed algorithm, the block-level is decided by the motion degree in the block before motion searching procedure, and then adequate motion searching performs according to the block-level. Which improves computational efficiency by eliminating an unnecessary searching process in no motion or low motion regions, and brings more accurate estimation results by deepening motion searching process in high motion regions. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm brings the lower estimation error--about 20% MSE reduction--with the fewer blocks per frame and the lower computational loading--about 98% operational amount reduction--than full search block matching algorithm with constant block size.

In this paper, we propose a fast full-search block matching algorithm for motion estimation, based on binary edge information. The binary edge information allows a faster search by reducing the computational complexity. It also reduces error, which is generated by the block located on the boundary of moving objects. After we transform the input image into an edge-based image using Sobel masks, we convert the result into a binary edge image using median-cut quantization. We then perform block matching using the binary edge image. If there exists blocks such that the error of the binary block matching exceeds threshold, we only perform edge intensity-based block matching within those blocks. We improve computational efficiency by eliminating an unnecessary searching process in no-motion regions. Simulation results have shown that the proposed method reduces the computational complexity and provides similar PSNR performance to the Full Search Block Matching Algorithm (FS-BMA)